Greensboro, NC is in the age discrimination spotlight.
The City of Greensboro, N.C., is facing an age-discrimination lawsuit.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is charging that Greensboro violated federal law when it denied employment to a 58-year-old man in 2007. From the press release released today by the EEOC :
According to the EEOC’s complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina around June 18, 2007, Terry Pearson (then 58), applied for a position with the City of Greensboro as an Electronic Processes Specialist. The position was a technician’s position, and generally involved maintenance of the City of Greensboro’s radio communication systems for first responders. EEOC charged in the suit that although Pearson was qualified for the position, the City of Greensboro selected three substantially younger applicants, all under age 40, at least one of whom was not as qualified as Pearson. The EEOC seeks back pay and liquidated damages ( double recovery ) for Pearson, as well as injunctive relief.
Since the job was a government one, it got the EEOC’s attention. Few private-sector job seekers who allege age discrimination have a federal agency to back them up; instead, they have to shoulder legal expenses themselves.
But EEOC muscle alone isn’t going to win the case; the commission will have to prove that age and age alone was the factor in the hiring decision, according to a recent ruling by the Supreme Court.
“It is not only unfair for employers to make unfounded assumptions about an individual’s ability to perform based on age, it’s illegal and might subject employers to federal lawsuits,” said EEOC Regional Attorney Lynette A. Barnes in a statement. “Federal law ensures that everyone, including older persons, has the right to participate and advance in the workplace without discriminatory barriers. Older workers bring invaluable experience and knowledge to the workplace which should not be overlooked by employers due to age-based stereotypes.”
Looking for additional age-discrimination information? See the following blogs and articles:
Age Bias Ruling: Will it Hurt Older Workers?
Virginia Man Brings Age-Discrimination Case, Claims Unfair Salary
How to Pass Employer Screening Requirements
Tips For Beating the “Age-Discrimination Filter”
[Image by CitiViewGreensborovia Flickr CC 2.0]
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